Higher Steam Pressures or Pulverized Coal?

The author assumes a hypothetical power or public service steam plant of 100,000-kw. nominal capacity and compares the cost of operation of such a plant on a basis of 250 lb. pressure and 600 deg. fahr. total steam temperature, and 400 lb. pressure and 700 deg. fahr. total steam temperature, when fired by stokers and pulverized coal. The results of the comparison indicate that, with much lower capital costs, even better thermal plant efficiency will pertain with the use of pulverized coal and the lower steam pressure than would be the case with the higher steam pressure plant, stoker fired.